SUPERMARKET TO ASIA COUNCIL
The Prime Minister's Supermarket to Asia Council met today for the second time.
The Council welcomed Mrs Fay Mc~ huigan as its newest member. Mrs McGuigan
is a great achiever in our wine industry and has been instrumental in increasing
Australia's exports. Fay is an excellent addition to the Council.
The clear feeling of the Council is that it should be action focussed rather than
simply holding more reviews.
To this end, the Council agreed to measures to get our goods into the Asian
markets. A number of working groups have been established which will devise action plans
to achieve greater exports. They will identify key problems and the solutions
required. Government and industry can then work together to implement the
necessary reforms,
As Chairman of the Council, I tabled a proposal to make Australian producers
aware of the high value specialist product opportunities that exist in Asia and how
we may benefit from these. The Government is very keen to increase
opportunities for our producers to diversify into new products and new markets
which better meet Asian tastes. This will also broaden regional Australia's
economic base and encourage further growth and employment.
For example, Queensland prawn producers are now diversifying into live Kuruma
prawns specifically for the Japanese market. At $ 80 per kg wholesale, they are the
most expensive prawns in the world. While this diversification is starting to occur,
there is clearly much greater potential.
The Government remains strongly committed to the Supermarket to Asia Council.
It is a forum which will provide significant opportunities for Australia, most
especially regional Australia. It will bring new opportunities, new jobs and new
investment. It is an integral part of our plan to rebuild regional Australia and I
look forward to future successes.
18 December 1996
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Attendees of the Second Meeting of the Supermarket to Asia Council
The Hon John Howard, MP
The Hon Tim Fischer, MP
The Hon John Anderson, MP
The Hon John Sharp, MP
The Hon John Moore, MP
Senator the Hon David Brownhill
Senator the Hon Bob Woods
Mr Paul Bourke
Mrs Fay McGuigan
Mr Jo De Bruyn
Professor Adrienne Clarke
Mr Malcolm Irving
Mr Donald McGauchie
Mr Reg Clairs
Mr Murray Rogers
Mr David Mortimer
Mr George Kailis
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